Americans have had a big change of heart on a controversial issue

In October 1969, 84% of Americans opposed legalizing the use of marijuana, 12% thought it should be legal.

Thirty-two years later in October 2011, Gallup found for the first time, Americans broke the 50% threshold favoring legalizing the drug.

Today, the November elections mark the first time voters popularly legalized the drug for recreational use. In Colorado, State Constitutional Amendment 64 passed 55 to 45%, and in Washington Initiative 502 also passed 55 to 45%, legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

The Reason-Rupe poll conducted this past September also found the nation ripe for drug policy change. The nation is evenly divided over whether to legalize small amount of marijuana for adults, 48 to 48%. However, nearly three-fourths believe...